Call for Artists for Pop-up Art Performances and Exhibits in Latin Quarter

Calling all artists! Hyde Square Task Force is looking to host a series of outdoor pop-up art performances/exhibits in different locations throughout Boston’s Latin Quarter between June and August. We are looking for a variety of performances/exhibits that will uplift the Afro-Latin culture of the neighborhood, bring vibrancy to the cultural district, and encourage people to get out in the district and support our local businesses. We are open to all art forms! Deadline is Monday, May 17th.

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Two Upcoming Development Meetings: Mildred Hailey Apartments; Faulkner Hospital

Two upcoming neighborhood meetings will continue to discuss two separate development projects. One the redevelopment of the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments in Jackson Square, and an addition to Faulkner Hospital. The next meeting about Phase I of the redevelopment of the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments will be with the Impact Advisory Group (IAG) on March 22 from 6 to 8 pm. Phase I of the redevelopment includes a 1-to-1 replacement of the existing 253 public housing units and add 435 more housing units. The 435 units would be deemed affordable and upper middle-income apartments.

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Construction Begins on New Jackson Square Development for 62 Affordable Units

Construction recently started on the new Holtzer Park housing development which will include 62 new affordable rental units in Jackson Square. The development is part of the Boston Housing Authority’s (BHA) 125 Amory Street redevelopment. The project is a joint venture between The Community Builders, Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation (JPNDC), and Urban Edge, which are renovating and preserving 199 public housing units as affordable housing, repurposing BHA offices into 12 new affordable units, and building approximately 133 units of affordable housing and 214 market-rate apartments in three new buildings on adjacent BHA-owned property. Holtzer Park will create 41 affordable units for households whose income is less than $76,740 for a family of four and are supported with Low Income Housing Tax Credits, according to a press release. An additional 21 of units will have project-based vouchers to provide more affordability for households whose income is less than $38,350 for a family of four.

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Jackson Square Stop & Shop Shop Back-to-School Snack Program Providing Free Snacks, Sidewalk Chalk, Hand Sanitizer

The Jackson Square Stop & Shop supermarket is looking to help students by offering a free back-to-school program that includes better-for-you snacks and hand sanitizer. With schools adopting hybrid or remote models of learning this fall, many students may continue to face a nutritional gap as parents struggle to afford groceries given the financial implications of the COVID-19 pandemic – and the need to buy additional food for a home-bound family. With food playing a vital role in student success, Stop & Shop launched a Back-to-School Snack Program to help ease the burden on families as a result of the pandemic and ensure students are fueled for a successful school year. Beginning September 9th and running through early October, the Stop & Shop Back-to-School Snack Program will provide a free bag of better-for-you snacks, as well as hand sanitizer, to students who visit one of the supermarket’s 52 stores hosting the program. The participating stores include all 27 Stop & Shop locations in New York City, nine in Boston, and four Providence, as well as select stores in Westchester, NY; Western Massachusetts; Bridgeport and the Hartford area in Connecticut; and Fall River.

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District E-13 (Jamaica Plain) Headquarters, Boston Police

1 Dead, 2 Shot, Police Chase Down 2 Suspects, 2 Others Arrested

A 24-year-old Jamaica Plain man has been identified as the victim from a Thursday night shooting on Centre Street. Boston Police responded to a shot spotter activation around 9:59 pm on May 21 in the area of 267 Centre St. Upon arrival police found two victims suffering from gunshot wounds. One of the victims, Dashawn Davis, 24, of Jamaica Plain, was later pronounced dead, according to BPDnews.com. The other victim was treated, and their injuries are not considering life threatening.

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Hyde Jackson Jackson Square Main Street Changes Name to Three Squares Main Street JP

The Hyde Jackson Jackson Square Main Street organization has changed its name and is now Three Squares Main Street JP. "Rebranding to Three Squares Main Street JP clearly positions our organization to advance the Main Street model in the three squares of our business district in Jackson Square, Hyde Square, and Canary Square," said Gerald Robbins, executive director of the organization. "Our role is unique and critically important to the business district and we want to stand apart as such." The district's geography is not changing, as it encompasses Centre Street from Jackson Square to Canary Square, with Hyde Square in between Jackson and Canary squares. Three Squares Main Street JP was formed in 1998, and is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

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Jamaica Mi Hungry Now Open in Jackson Square

Jerk chicken, curry vegetable stew, pulled jerk pork are just a few of the scrumptious offerings at the newest restaurant in Jamaica Plain -- Jamaica Mi Hungry -- which recently opened in Jackson Square. Jamaica Mi Hungry started off as a food truck, and this its first brick and mortar business in Boston. They've also had a seasonal restaurant in Hampton, New Hampshire. The restaurant is owned by chef Ernie Campbell, and his partner Aquila Kentish is the general manager, and recently had a baby! The restaurant offers entrees such as oxtail braised in root beer ale, and curry goat, which come with two sides such as sweet plantains, mac and cheese, and dill slaw.

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What Do You Think Is Most Important to Centre/South Street Redesign?

Businesses are being asked to offer their opinions on what they'd want to see if Centre/South Street were redesigned. The Boston Cyclists Union and JP Centre/South Main Streets are conducting a survey of businesses in the district, and will be sharing the survey's results with the Boston Transportation Department. The city's plans for the Centre/South redesign are on hold, but are expected to restart soon, according to the JPCSMS newsletter. It is part of the already completed redesign of Jackson Square and Hyde Square. The city has allocated more than $700,000 for the design alone, which would go from Hyde Square down Centre and South streets to the Arborway, said Ginger Brown, director of JPCSMS.

The survey asks business owners to rank seven options on what they feel is most important in a redesign: increased pedestrian/sidewalk space; improved bike infrastructure and bike parking; improved bus service; improved streetscape (like benches, lighting, greenery, public art); better signage for the business district; and increased parking for cars.

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New Documentary About Boston’s Latin Quarter Premiering August 12

A new documentary "Boston's Latin Quarter," which takes a close look at the Hyde and Jackson Squares neighborhoods, is debuting in Jamaica Plain on August 12. Colombian filmmaker Monica Cohen, a Jamaica Plain resident, spent much of the last year producing and directing the 30-minute, bilingual documentary. The film looks closely at how the Hyde-Jackson Square neighborhood on the border of Jamaica Plain and Roxbury has transformed during the past three decades and recently received the designation of being Boston's Latin Quarter from the Massachusetts Cultural District. In the documentary, the director examines issues such as the strengths of the immigrant communities, Latinx entrepreneurs, the role of Afro-Latin Arts/Culture, place-keeping, and problems of crime, violence and gentrification. Following the film, a panel including Cohen; Celina Miranda, Executive Director of Hyde Square Task Force; Damaris Pimental, owner of Ultra Beauty Salon; and Elaine Mondy, a Boston Latin Quarter residents, will discuss the issues raised in the film.

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Little Dipper, Brendan Behan and Main Street Volunteers Honored by Mayor

The recent extreme heat delayed Mayor Marty Walsh touring around Main Street districts highlighting local businesses and volunteers, including several of Jamaica Plain's favorite businesses. Some of the JP part of the tour was rescheduled for July 22, and some of the tour was rescheduled for this weekend. During three separate days, Mayor Walsh will visit nine different locations, honoring 20 Main Street volunteers and numerous businesses. This weekend the PikaloX restaurant and volunteer Eugenia Arroyo, will be honored as part of Egleston Square Main Streets. The Little Dipper restaurant, and volunteer Melvin Tutiven will be honored by the Jamaica Plain Centre South Main Streets program.

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